The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-14
A PRISON SHYLOCK.
How Q Confederate Spectator Accumulated
Fortune In War Times.

How q Confederate Spectator Accumulated
Fortune In War Times
An officer who was a prisoner of war in
Charleston in 1864 tells the following story:
81 never see steamer approach the dock at
Fortress Monroe that DO not recall an incident
Macon to Charleston to be placed under the fire
of the Union batteries on Morris island that
were then Smelling Charleston. We were never
in great personal danger. for Smelling city at q
distance of four or five miles was not then very
effective. Not one of them was injured during
their stay. But all of them got very hard up
for money Pretty soon all were reduced to the
pint OF corn meal per day. an ounce of salt per
week and sem-occasional piece of bacon that
formed our prison ration.
There then appeared among us q new pris-
oner. He was, he said. Union officer from a
New York regiment He had very little of the
soldier about him. He rather reminded you Of
dealer But he had charm. He had money to
observation-disclosures money The money would
not buy much, but it would buy something. A
dollar in gold could be sold for about $50 in this
currency outside the prison. We did not have
any gold, but he did not demand gold. He
loaned his confederate money for Northern
Charleston market. That is, he would give
you 81. 900 in confederate money for a draft of
800 on a father. brother, wife or son in any of
the great Northern cities. He said he would take
the risk of collecting the drafts and plumed
himself on his generosity. He soon had plenty
of customers, and did fine business From
officers. These he charged for at the rate of
$500 in confederate money for a note of 800
four times the rate for gold in the Charleston
market
''He was a shrewd fellow and picked his Gus
toners with much care = curbstone broker.
Il was soon discovered that he had an unlimited
supply Of confederate money, and it was also
soon discovered that he was favored prisoner,
for he seemed able to go and come on parole at
Will He visited the hospital frequently, and
there he found his best customers. He took
8 % n M 1faro IAff IN fPya rdG a.
home, describing the privstons of the sick.
From all the officers not in the hospital he took
letters of sransmittal with the drafts, setting
forth that the bearer had done them great
service in cashing tine drafts. and expressing the
hope that they would be paid.
These operations occupied about six weeks.
Altogether the man had secured drafts to the
amount of about $50, 900 in gold--for every
draft stipulated that it was to be paid in gold.
Gold was then at a big premium in the North,
SO the draft for 800 would be worth $3.50, or
perhaps 5000 in the North, if it was paid in
gold. The Spectator intended TO make money
both ways. If he could collect all he would have
from $4,000 to 100000 in greenb backs for his
drafts
lone day it was known that there were to be
two Union officers exchanged by the flag OF truce
in the harbor. One of the lucky fellows was
the money-iender The other was q cavalry
officer who had been a prisoner for many
months. The latter had long watched the per-
formances of the money-lender and had resisted
all inducements to borrow from him. The two
went out of the harbor together, and were
ceived board Of the Cosmopolitan by
General Stewart L. Woodford, the adjutant-
general of the Department of the South. They
were transferred at Hilton Head to the
steamer Arago, a government transport bound
at Fortress Monroe to let the exchanged pris-
oners and dispatches from General Gilmore go
thence to Washington. The money-lender and
tue cavalry officer had occupied the same state
room their northern voyage. During the
voyage the money-lender became quite chatty
and the cavalry officer became convinced that
I'D
Union army, but that he was, simply put into
the prison at Charleston to work the prisoners
for the profit of the Shylocks Of that city.
'As the Arago steamed up the bay toward the
dock at Fortress Monroe. the OFFENDER
pulled from under his mattress a small satchel.
This was his only baggage. The cavalry officer
had borrowed from General Woodford. The
two went deck. The ey-lender pushed
his way eagerly to the forward deck and stood
by the capstan. Presently he placed his precious
holding on TO it. however. with
tight grip. Near him stood the cavalry
were watching the shores and participating in
the excitement of landing after three days
voyage. Some incident of the occasion pro-
duced sudden rush to the vessels side. In
that instant the noney-lender let go his grip on
the satchel. Quick as thought it seized by
another hand and dropped into the waters of
Chesapeake bay.
.'No one saw it done. for it was dropped over
the side of the ship when none were looking.
The cavaly officer was camly leaning over the
starboard rail contemplating the beautiful ex-
panse of Hampton roads apparently caring 10th
ing for the stir and clamor of the landing. The
money-ender exclaimed at his loss, offered re-
ward for the return of the satchel and Its con-
tents. but no one could offer him any comfort
He went down to the dock a very sad man, and
no one seemed to SO deeply sympathize with him
his comrade of the Second United States
cavalry.
sit is needless to say that none of the drafts
ever turned up to plague the Union prisoners
after their return, although some of them
ceived letters from the money-lender in after
years asking settlement OF accounts. Some
doubtless paid, but the major portion con
clndad that such lnssas az that of the Shrlnck